Aadhaar mobile linking: Telecom department issues orders to telcos

In another Aadhaar-related extension, the Department of Telecom (DoT) has indefinitely extended the time limit for re-verifying mobilenumbers. This comes days after the Supreme Court had extended the March 31 deadline for mandatory linking of Aadhaar to avail various services and welfare schemes run by the government till its constitution bench delivered its verdict on the validity of the 12-digit biometric number and its enabling law.

Loading...

In a press release, the DoT said, “In compliance with the directions of the SC, the undersigned is directed to convey the approval of competent authority that the last date of re-verification of existing mobile subscribers through Aadhaar-based E-KYC process, is further extended till the matter is finally heard and and the judgement is pronounced by the Hon’ble Supreme Court,

What is also mentioned by DoT is that no voice or text messages sent by mobile service providers should include any last date for re-verification.

Earlier this year, the DoT had set up an automated customer care number for all mobile service providers. Customers had to dial 14546 to generate a one-time password to enable re-verification of mobile numbers.

As for UIDAI, it had issued an advisory after the Supreme Court’s judgement stating that the requirement of Aadhaar for opening new bank accounts or applying for Tatkal passports will continue. In a statement, UIDAI had said, “As per the Supreme Court’s order dated 13th March 2018, the requirement of Aadhaar for opening new bank accounts and applying for Tatkal passports under the relevant laws continues.”